Banned substance found in frozen Brazilian chicken shipment: gov't

SEOUL, March 11 (Yonhap) -- The government on Wednesday said it found an
unauthorized antimicrobial substance in frozen chicken imports from Brazil.

The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS) said traces of
Chloramphenicol were found in a 23.5 ton shipment of meat that arrived in the
country on March 3.
"Since the substance was discovered, the shipment has been rejected and will be
returned or destroyed," a government inspector said. He added Perdigao S.A.,
which exported the frozen chickens, has been notified not to send further
shipments until a probe is finished. If shipments from the Brazilian meat company
are in transit and arrive in the next few days they will undergo thorough
examinations, the official said.
"Brazilian authorities have been contacted and requested to ensure the prevention
of a recurrence of such shipments," the official said.
Chloramphenicol is an antimicrobial that is used against a wide variety of
microorganisms but has been banned in livestock since 1991. It is in certain
cases used to treat humans.
South Korea has imported 2,599 tons of frozen chicken from the South American
country this year, of which 470 tons were from Perdigao.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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